By Dannielle Cronin
Australian Capital Territory (ACT) Chief Minister Jon Stanhope has declined to meet the Dalai Lama during his visit to Canberra today.
A spokeswoman claimed Mr Stanhope was too busy to see the controversial Tibetan leader, who would meet instead with Deputy Chief Minister Katy Gallagher.
Mr Stanhope, who recently returned from a trade mission to China, had expected to be interstate during the Dalai Lama’s Canberra visit thereby avoiding a backlash from Beijing.
But his spokeswoman denied the decision not to meet the Nobel Peace laureate was political.
“He was asked to meet the President of the Philippines and he was too busy to do that …” she said.
“Six months ago, he was invited to meet [British Prime Minister] Tony Blair and he was too busy to do that.
“So this is a normal and routine thing for him, particularly in a small government, to not meet with visiting dignitaries of any sort.
“Sometimes he does but almost invariably, he doesn’t have the time.”
The Dalai Lama arrives in Canberra today as part of an 11-day tour of the country.
He will deliver an address at the National Press Club and Australian National University Symposium One World, Many Paths to Peace at the AIS Arena.
Both events have sold out.
The exiled spiritual leader is scheduled to meet Opposition Leader Kevin Rudd but the Prime Minister’s office could not confirm yesterday if John Howard would do the same.
Mr Howard previously pledged to check his diary, prompting an about-face from Mr Rudd who had not planned to meet the spiritual leader.
Australian Tibet Council chairman George Farley said the Prime Minister should stop procrastinating and find time in his schedule.
